Are Fewer Mexicans Interested in Immigrating to America?

Mexicans no more likely than Americans to say they want to leave their homeland

There are as many Mexicans interested in leaving their country as there Americans interested in leaving theirs, reports polling outfit Gallup.

11% of residents to our south - and 11% of our own countrymen and women - would emigrate if given the chance. It's a decline of 10% on the Mexican side since 2007, and indicative of almost no change whatsoever in attitudes on the American side. So what gives? The gradual improvement of the Mexican standard of living vis-a-vis that found in the US, writes the American Interest's Walter Russell Mead:

Fears that America will be overrun by a mass of poor workers from Latin America are looking more and more like yesterday's news. Birthrates in Mexico are falling, and the economic situation continues to improve. In 2012, its GDP grew by nearly 4 percent, and foreign investors, encouraged by the turnaround, poured $57 billion into stocks and bonds in the first nine months.

Via Gallup and the American Interest.

Do you expect Mexican immigration to the US to continue falling?

[Concerned_Cit]

The way Obama is dragging down America in debt, it won't be long until Americans are sneaking across the border to Mexico in search of jobs and drugs, since they will have all left the US.

[NTBFW]

My thought exactly.

[NTBFW]

But to be honest. If they cleaned out the cartels. And got their government to get its act together Mexico could be a fantastic place to live. It's only poor because of poor government. They have every resource they need to be doing fine.

[Concerned_Cit]

@NTBFW True, but the people there are so used to being subjugated by politicians, military law, etc, that they don't have that independent freedom loving spirit that Americans still have, so they are not likely to gain freedom from the corrupt government and cartels anytime soon because of that. As a people they are just too complacent and willing to roll over to authority. Very socialistic in their viewpoints as well. Mexico is a shining example of what America will become if we continue down the same path of the last 20+ years.

[NTBFW]

@Concerned_Cit I hadn't thought of that. But you are right. I just was thinking of it like an optimist American.

[martydotcom]

@NTBFW Educate yourself bait on how Mexico has reversed their economy. Go beyond talking-points
http://www.roundearthmedia.org/2013/02/high-t...

http://www.economist.com/news/special-report/...

[zachsquatch]

Since we already have half of Mexico already here, I'd have to agree.

[Hireman]

Exactly. When 10% of their population is already in the US, the percentage of those still their that want to leave will mathematically be less.

[zachsquatch]

I love how the Mexican President berates our immigration system, yet mandates that illegals in Mexico serve prison time.

[Politic-n]

The Mexican president is now demanding from Obama a list of gunowners that live in Tx, NM, Az, and California, names, addresses, etc. No need to guess what they will do with that list.

[MadAmerican]

Like Ron White said a couple years ago "lets swap countries, fix up mexico and flip it." Then the Mexicans will want it back!

[FollowTheMoney]

I love that bit.

[zachsquatch]

It's strange that the Politix voting system automatically counts a percentage into a category that hasn't even received votes. Your site is named correctly that's for sure.

[BossTweed]

Would you stop coming if the Country next door forced it's moronic tax slaves to give you a banquet of FREE STUFF? Sneaking into the USA is like hitting the LOTTO for these throngs. Don't blame them. We elected the freaks who betrayed us in service to the Illegals.

[ASISEEIT2]

Mexicans perhaps realize that America has reached a point where its bounty is about to be exhausted by those who cross the border illegally and by those Americans who believed it was owed to them to have working Americans provide for them and their families for life. Theres a old saying that refers to what occurrs whan a ship begins to sink,Maybe the Mexicans are aware that the old Ship, America is sinking.

[stepped_in_it]

HMMM........�It’s the Economy Stupid” is the appropriate answer here. Any "poster" here who believes they know what the economy will do 2-4 years from now need to see my Craig's List post on my Mississippi Delta land for sale! Cheap!!

[FollowTheMoney]

Heh heh heh...That's exactly right. Construction is slow at best. Many American tradesmen are struggling to stay working. The Mexicans, even at their cut throat rate, are getting pushed aside. But it's only temporary, When the economy picks up, so will the Mexican scab labor.

[mwr]

they are just waiting for Obama's citizenship drive thorugh rules to get passed

[miketost]

Think about it?I can leave my own corrupt government for a new land that will allow thru legal or illegal means give me the right to vote and set policies that will benefit me.Why would they not in the same way most Americans would do the same if a nation was fool enough to allow such.Its a win win.

[Vance1]

Mexican criminal immigration will never stop, Too many democrat provided free bie's in our country for them, Healthcare/Welfare just for starters

[jamayla]

Mantequilla!!!!

[FollowTheMoney]

It's a Gallop poll. No wonder.

[SAS86]

Mexicans think we stole the southwestern United States from the and are trying, and succeeding, in taking it back - ILLEGALLY!

[Grubby]

If it ever slows down you can bet Obama and the Dumbocrats will find a way to sweeten the enticements and freebies to get more to cross....the only way to get more low information, dependent voters on the rolls.

[Penn1699]

Please . They started giving them food stamps a couple years ago. Yes, US giving mexicans in Mexico food stamps

[Thegrif]

Their asses are running back across the border screaming "those dumbasses in America got less work than we do."
LOL

[tomincali]

first of if these folks didn't want to leave their country they would not be here. next i do not believe the numbers have lowered as to those still coming. with those against citizens in office pushing shamnesty more likely the numbers are getting larger and with obama wanting law enforcement to look the other way same must be true at the border.

[Ironicguy]

In all reality it's not much better here, I think more Mexicans will cross the US border, but only so they can keep going until they get to Canada

[ASISEEIT2]

Funny! You mean America is like half-way House

[jmann88]

Can we get a hope so vote?

[RoyFloyd]

"Birthrates are falling" is an understatement. Down 60%+, from an average of over 7 kids per woman 50 years ago to about 2.5 now, only slightly higher than the U.S, and this in what might be the world's most Catholic country. Of course it depends also on the law of supply-and-demand for labor in Mexico, a market which has been malfunctioning for decades. Despite a fairly low unemployment rate wages remain stuck to the ground, even those in highly educated/skilled professions. I know doctors and engineers that had to go to work as waiters in touristy hotels or open a liquor store so they could make more money.

[seedtick]

The good Mexican citizens who are successful will remain loyal to their homeland..it is their home just like our homeland is the USA. But, in the same breath you must add: why should the Mexican cartel members want to leave? Hell, they have a bird's nest on the ground...robbing, raping and otherwise using the poor migrants from further south as they try to go north. They have a huge drug business going. And, until the Mexican government can curtail that we will continue to see violence there.
The poor Mexicans only a seek better life....but it ain't here right now, so they don't come as readily.

[MattiMuck]

The cartels basically run Mexico. The only force strong enough to crush them would be the US declaring war, but that won't happen...and poor Mexicans just trying to make a better life? Maybe so, but don't feel too bad for them. Over half of illegal immigrants in the US are criminals. 6+ mil out of 12 mil equals a pretty high percentage. And those are just the ones we "know" about. It's probably more like 20-30 mil, and those that have managed to elude inland detection are presumably criminals by a much higher percentage based on the lack of even a modicum of honesty.

[seedtick]

@MattiMuck Well, I don't need a lesson about Illegal aliens. I spent several years living in, owning land in, and leasing hunting land in South Texas. I still live in Texas, but I no longer go to South Texas. In years past I watched the migrant workers cross the border, walk miles thru the ranchland so they could get work. But, back then they always returned home. We left water out for them at our camps and if we had some canned food we left it out for them rather than carry it back home. About 15 yrs ago it started getting really bad..they broke into camps and stole anything they could carry. Then the drug runners and the human trafficing bunch began to take over everything. You did not want to meet up with them on a sendero, they just might shoot you so you could not call in about them.
In short...they are ILLEGAL ALIENS as described by law. They are wrong to be here. They have slithered across the border by dark of night, overstayed a visa, or otherwise got to this country illegally. That makes them guilty of a crime. And, when they used false ID or stolen ID they became even worse criminals.

[Drake_Burrwood]

Instead of selling "assault rifles" to the cartels they should have passed out "Saturday Night Specials" with the food stamps. No self respecting cartel member or criminal would be caught dead with one, unless a father couldn't take what was done to his family and died with it or left it at the scene. There are way more fathers and mothers then cartel members.